Four Downs: Hackenberg-led Penn State clips BC in Pinstripe Bowl thriller

It's a heartbreaking scene, for sure, knowing that a thrilling sporting event ended on a giant miscue. But 20 years from now, when Penn State fans are reliving the supreme highs and deflating lows from Saturday's comeback victory ... Mike Knoll's wide-right PAT will be a mere footnote.

That's not to say Boston College (7-6) would have eventually claimed victory in overtime. Quite simply, a few more extra sessions might have cemented this as one of the decade's best bowl finishes.

This memorable game had a painfully mediocre start, with both clubs accounting for only one touchdown in the first half. It was archaic in structure, as well, with the ESPN announcers noting how Boston College invoked a "1950s-style" offensive look on standard down-and-distance plays ... where all 22 players -- including the Penn State defenders -- could easily fit into the TV screen.

But things picked up in the third quarter, with BC quarterback Tyler Murphy engineering two touchdown drives (one passing, one rushing) and subsequently forcing Penn State to abandon the best laid plans of offensive balance ... thus relying on QB Christian Hackenberg (season-high 50 pass attempts) to carry the freight.

As a true freshman in 2013, Hackenberg passed for 2,955 yards and 20 TDs in Bill O'Brien's offense, eliciting cannon-arm comparisons to Matthew Stafford and prompting NFL scouts and GMs to daydream about his status as cornerstone quarterback, beginning in 2016.

But then came change, in the form of James Franklin taking over for O'Brien (now with the Houston Texans). In the new offensive scheme, Hackenberg threw more balls than last year -- but registered fewer completions and passing touchdowns (eight). Ugh!

How inefficient was this sophomore campaign? Heading into the Pinstripe Bowl, Hackenberg tallied just one game of multiple TDs (three vs. Akron) and one 300-yard passing day in Big Ten play (@ Rutgers).

Fast forward to Saturday: After a shaky first quarter, which included multiple incompletions to open wide receivers, Hackenberg recovered in a big-time manner, passing for 371 yards and a season-high four touchdowns -- including the eventual game-winner to tight end Kyle Carter (10-yard scoring catch).

We say "eventual" ... because Sam Ficken's extra-point kick officially sealed the program-defining win for Penn State.

As for Hackenberg (assuming he doesn't stealthily transfer to a different school over the Christmas break -- HA), his Pinstripe Bowl performance shall serve as a springboard to national acclaim in 2015, a year in which Penn State will be free of recruiting/bowl restrictions from the Jerry Sandusky/PSU administration scandal of 2010.

At 6-foot-4, 234 pounds, the kid has all the physical tools to be a star at the next level ... and we thought that before Hackenberg found DaeSean Hamilton with a 16-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter -- spinning vertical gold out of an impossibly tight throwing window over the middle.

Maybe it's the #32 jersey, or the way the freshman runs upright in the open field, but Hilliman bears the on-field likeness of Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson. His power-speed combo worked wonderfully against Penn State -- the nation's top-ranked rushing defense -- rolling for 148 yards and one touchdown on only 25 carries.

Only 25 carries?

To be precise, the 25 carries represented the second-highest tally of Hilliman's collegiate career. But it also accounted for only 38 percent of Boston College's offense -- which generally comprised of Hilliman handles and semi-scripted scampers from the QB Murphy, who produced more rushing yards (105) than passing (97).

Back to Hilliman: Ever since he assumed a starring role on offense -- notching two TDs in BC's upset of No. 9 USC on Sept. 13 -- the Eagles have been a formidable challenger for some of the nation's most notable programs, including USC, Florida State, Louisville and now Penn State.

And it'll be interesting to see how the Boston College offense evolves heading into next season, in lieu of Murphy -- one of the few college QBs to amass 1,000 rushing/passing yards -- exhausting his college eligibility.

Will the offense invoke a pro-style attack, in order to maximize Hilliman's high ceiling as a workhorse back?

Which brings us to this: For the year, Hilliman tallied just one reception -- or one catch more than Andre Williams (2,177 yards, 18 TDs) collected as a senior in 2013. But as an NFL rookie, Williams posted six games of three-plus receiving targets with the Giants ... a telling revelation that suggests Boston College recruits, but doesn't necessarily need versatile stars at tailback.

Check out this picture (above), courtesy of HardballTalk.com. The way the late-afternoon winter sun glistens off the venue's various boundaries ... it eerily reminds one of when old Yankee Stadium housed the NFL's New York Giants (1956-73).

In fact, if you blow up the photo to "200% or more" ... you'll see the hologram likeness of Chuck Bednarik laying out Frank Gifford.

(Old joke wasted on young readers.)